Some things to consider about airline fees if you're planning to send a child or children flying alone this summer:
Delta is the only major airline that charges a $30 fee each way, in addition to its regular fare, for an unaccompanied child ages 5 to 12 to fly on any of its flights.
The six other major airlines -- TWA, United, USAir, American, Continental and Northwest -- charge no extra fee for children ages 5 to 12 to fly on direct, non-stop flights. The six airlines do, however, charge a $30 fee each way to escort an unaccompanied minor to a connecting flight.
Spokesman Todd Clay said that Delta's fee covers filling out and handling paperwork for the child, holding the child's ticket during fTC the flight and making sure the child is handed over to the designated pick-up person at the destination. The fee also is for escorting the child and paperwork to another gate for a connecting flight.
The airlines, vary on how the escort fee applies to two or more children traveling together on the same itinerary and for escorting children to connecting international flights.
* TWA and USAir charge one $30 fee each way for children in the same family connecting to domestic or international flights.
* United charges $30 each way per child on the same itinerary for domestic flights and flights connecting to Europe and Latin America, but the escort service is free to flights connecting to the Pacific or Canada.
* American charges $30 per child connecting to domestic or international flights.
* Northwest and Continental charge one escort fee for two or more children, related or not related, on the same itinerary
domestically, but the service is free to connecting international flights.
* Delta charges only one fee for two or more children in the same family on all flights domestically and to Canada and Mexico, but there's no fee on flights to Europe, the Pacific and South America.
